Brown Honored As Titans’ Mr. Football Finalist

NASHVILLE (December 9) — Cole Brown, a junior Rebel quarterback, was honored as one of 30 outstanding high school football players in Tennessee at the Tennessee Titans Mr. Football Awards luncheon on Tuesday, December 9 at Nissan Stadium.

Cole, his family, coaches, and MHS Principal Kelly Spivey attended the lunch from McKenzie High School.

The awards were divided into six classes in Division I, and three in Division II (private) schools. The Kicker of the Year award was also presented.

From West Tennessee, Graham Simpson of Westview in Martin was the lone Mr. Football. The other top honors went to middle and east Tennessee athletes.

Division I, Class 1A finalist was Cole Brown, McKenzie High School. 6’1”, 185-pound quarterback and defensive back. He’s a junior and three-year starter for McKenzie High School. In his junior year in the regular season 2025, Brown had 2,125 passing yards with 26 touchdowns and a 74.5% completion percentage, 659 rushing yards with 18 touchdowns for 44 total touchdowns this season, 55 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, and punting with 10 punts for 456 yards with a 45-yard average. Cole has been selected to the all-region team three times and has earned all-state honors during his career. His head coach is Keith Hodge. His parents are Chad and Josie Brown.

Jaiden Bunch of Coalfield High School was also a finalist. Jaden is 5’10”, 185-pound running back and defensive back, and outside linebacker. He’s a senior and a three-year starter for Coalfield High School. In 2025, Bunch has 2,108 all-purpose yards with 31 total touchdowns, 135 rushing attempts for 1,534 yards with 25 touchdowns and an 11.4 yards per carry average. He had four receptions for 67 yards with one touchdown, ten tackles with one and a half tackles for loss in the sack, 11 punt returns for 252 yards with three touchdowns, and four kickoff returns for 255 yards with two touchdowns. Jaden earned all-region honors his senior year. He was named the 2024 Region 2A Offensive Player of the Year and selected to the 2023 first-team All-Star Preps Undeclassman team. His head coach is Benson Napier.

DaYon Cooper from South Pittsburg High School was selected as Mr. Football for Class 1Al. He’s 6’1”, 175-pound wide receiver, running back, quarterback. and defensive back. He’s a junior and a three-year starter for South Pittsburg High School in 2025. Cooper has 37 carries for 421 yards with five touchdowns, 29 catches to go with it for 681 yards and 10 touchdowns, averaging 23 yards per reception. He also has three kickoff returns for 104 yards and a touchdown. He has been named to the all-region team three times and was twice an All-State selection.

Graham Simpson of Westview High School in Martin was named Mr. Football Class 3A. Graham, a 6-foot, 180-pound quarterback, is a sophomore and a two-year starter for Westview. This year, he completed 140 of his 175 passes for over 2,200 yards and 25 touchdowns with only three interceptions and 23 carries for 150 yards and a touchdown. He was named Max Prep’s Freshman Player of the Year, Region 7 3A Offensive Most Valuable Player last year, and the Region’s Most Valuable Player this year. He was a finalist for this award last year. His head coach is Matt McCott.

The Mr. Football winners were: DaYon Cooper, South Pittsburg, Class 1A; Zach Groves, Class 2a, East Robertson; Class 3A, Graham Simpson, Westview; Class 4A, Caden Baugh, Greenville; Class 5A, Cooper Newman, Sevier County; Class 6A - Kelvin Perkins, Southwind; Division II, Class 1A - Jared Curtis, Nashville Christian School; Class 2A - Kaedyn Marable, Battle Ground Academy; Class 3A David Gabriel Georges, Baylor; Kicker of Year, Tommy Bauchiero, Brentwood Academy.